Reserve Deputy Program

Captain Blair Nicholson began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 1988 when he was commissioned as a Reserve Deputy and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division at Kleinpeter Substation. He remained at Kleinpeter until going full-time in 1993. He then served at Parish Prison before being reassigned to Uniform Patrol and Kleinpeter Substation. Captain Nicholson worked his way through the ranks from Sergeant at Central Substation to Lieutenant at Kleinpeter Substation. In 2008, Sheriff Gautreaux promoted him to Captain and commander over Central Substation. He currently serves as the commander over the Reserves, Field Training Officer Program and the Bomb Squad.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at LSU in 1990 and attended LSU’s 119th Basic Training Academy. He also served on the Sheriff’s SWAT team for 10 years. Captain Nicholson is certified by the FBI as a bomb and Haz Mat technician and has attended numerous schools dealing with explosives, Hazardous Materials and special response. He is currently active with the EBRSO Bomb Squad and Haz Mat Team.

The Reserve Program

Serving the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish for nearly forty years, the Sheriff's Office Reserve Division, has become one of the finest of its kind in the state, if not the country. Comprised of individuals from all professions and all walks of life, this group contributes tens of thousands of hours each year to promote the safety and security of the residents of the parish.

Our Reserve Deputies are part time, non-salaried, fully-commissioned law enforcement officers. Reserve Deputies have the same responsibilities, the same duties, and receive the same level of training and, most importantly, they have the same authority as their regularly employed counterparts. Opportunities exist within the Reserve organization for individuals to serve in all areas of law enforcement.

A number of our former Reserve Deputies have gone on to positions of leadership in the law enforcement community-- both in the Sheriff's Office and other agencies within the state. If you want to be part of this tradition, then this is the opportunity for you to truly make a difference in your community.